Frequently Asked Questions

"The science and math are awesome."
- Grant K.

So that you can get a better understanding of ACE Academy, we put together some frequently asked questions. Should you have questions that go beyond the realm of what's answered here, feel free to contact our office, so that someone can better assist you.

How are classes at ACE structured?

ACE classes are a mixture of ability grouping and differentiation so that we can meet students where they are and structure the school day so that they can stay with their age-appropriate peers. Grade skipping and acceleration look different at ACE, since we can control our pacing in ways that other schools cannot. We consider academic, social, emotional and developmental benchmarks when making placement decisions.

Do you have a high school?

Currently, ACE Academy does not have a high school.

What colleges do ACE students attend?

What are SIPs?

ACE's equivalent to an IEP/504 at a public school. These child-centered, strength based plans are developed after the counselor meets with the parent(s)/guardian(s) and reviews relevant assessments. Accommodations are broken down into environmental, academic, social-emotional, and specific subject customized according to the student's diagnosis or diagnoses and other relevant information.

What does it mean when a class moves to waitlist?

When a class moves to a waitlist it means that we have exceeded the number of available spots. Your child will be placed on a waitlist and when there's an opening, you will be notified.

ACE Academy has interventions and accommodations in place to address the above twice exceptionalities; we look for progress and growth over time. If students are not able to effectively function within the school environment or ACE Academy deems their 2E to be beyond our scope of ability, then ACE reserves the right to revisit a student’s placement. ACE cannot accommodate students who present with challenges such as severe depression, atypical emotional outbursts, physical aggression, severe Autism Spectrum disorders, 3+ year differential in asynchronous development, and any twice exceptionality that goes beyond our faculty’s scope of training or requires that a student’s needs be addressed in a therapeutic environment, or with a full-time specialist, before their giftedness can be addressed.

What does it mean to be gifted?

There is nothing to hide or be ashamed of regarding the term “gifted.” Understanding who we are and what makes us tick is essential in developing a strong sense of self. In fact, students often question what it means to be gifted; learning that it doesn’t mean excelling across the board in all subjects can be quite liberating and ease anxiety.

According to the National Association for Gifted Children: Giftedness may manifest in one or more domains such as; intellectual, creative, artistic, leadership, or in a specific academic field such as language arts, mathematics or science.

It is difficult to estimate the absolute number of gifted children in the U.S. and the world because the calculation is dependent on the number of areas, or domains, being measured and the method used to identify gifted children. However, many consider children who are in the top 10 percent in relation to a national and/or local norm to be a good guide for identification and services.

It is important to note that not all gifted children look or act alike. Giftedness exists in every demographic group and personality type. It is important that adults look hard to discover potential and support gifted children as they reach for their personal best.

What high schools do ACE students attend?

What are spACEs?

Sensory-friendly, progressive classrooms called “spACEs” are the standard at ACE. This includes a mixture of standing desk options, wiggle seats, natural lighting, approved fidgets, and other items and configurations that create a better learning environment for all students.

What does rolling admissions mean?

Rolling admissions means that we allow students to enroll throughout the school year. There are no admissions deadlines, however, we do encourage that all shadowing be completed for the next year by the end of the current school year.

What does the shadowing process look like?

Shadowing consists of having your child join us for two full days of observation. The days do not have to be consecutive days. It allows us to determine if your child is a fit for ACE by getting a look at where they are socially and academically.

Shadowing students will be paired with an ACE student ambassador to help guide them through the day. Additionally, the Director of Admissions and Student Affairs will check in on the shadowing student throughout the day and talk with the parents about the feedback received.

What are some resources to help me learn more about giftedness?

The National Research Center on Gifted and Talented (NRC/GT) successfully competed for a series of federally funded grants (1990-2013) under the Jacob K. Javits Gifted and Talented Education Act. The research that we have conducted for over 2 decades required the cooperation and collaboration of administrators, teachers, and students from all over the country. We gratefully acknowledge the role that each person played in providing us with opportunities to collect extensive data on critical topics and report the findings to multiple audiences. We hope you share our research with other interested educators involved with gifted and talented education by visiting our website.www.nrcgt.uconn.edu

The National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) is an organization of parents, educators, other professionals and community leaders to address the unique needs of children and youth.www.nagc.org

You can search State Resources for Gifted Education and Individual State Gifted Organizations on the NAGC website under the heading “Gifted By State.” NAGC membership includes a subscription to Parenting for High Potential, a magazine with articles geared to the development of talent.

The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) is the largest international professional organization dedicated to improving educational outcomes for individuals with exceptionalities, students with disabilities, and/or the gifted.www.cec.sped.org

The Association for the Gifted (TAG) organized in 1958 by The Council for Exceptional Children, helps professionals and parents work with gifted children. www.cectag.com

The mission of National Society for the Gifted and Talented is to advance the development of gifted, talented, and high potential youth, in the United States and abroad, through opportunities, advocacy, and exemplary programs and practices.www.nsgt.org

The Association for the Education of Gifted Underachieving Students (AEGUS) provides a forum for ideas and interventions aimed at helping twice-exceptional students reach their full potential.www.aegus1.com

The Davidson Institute for Talent Development has extensive resources for highly gifted students (and their parents). You can access articles by selecting “Browse by Topic” or “Search GT-Cybersource” from the “Resources” header in the pull-down top bar menu bar.www.davidsongifted.org

Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted (SENG) focuses primarily on the adults (parents, educators, etc) in the lives of gifted children. SENG provides information on identification, guidance, and effective ways to live and work with gifted individuals.www.sengifted.org

Hoagies’ Gifted Education Page is a resource guide for the education of gifted children with links to many gifted education resources available on the Internet.www.hoagiesgifted.org

2e Newsletter 2e stands for twice-exceptional. A newsletter dedicated to children who are gifted and have learning disabilities, learning disorders, attention difficulties, or just plain learning differences.www.2enewsletter.com

Great Resources for Discovering and Encouraging Interests:
The Academy of Achievement: www.achievement.org